~

 

“What are we doing?” Penny whispered, joining in with her friends as they bagged the left over toys back up into the black sacks and made them ready for the trucks.

“Working for God’s reward, apparently,” Isla shot back.

“Funny,” Penny hissed back.

“Not so much when you think of the irony of it all,” Keri offered her two pence worth.

“I meant about our car,” Penny whispered.

“It’s still blocked in,” Keri shrugged.

“When it’s not?” Penny hissed.

All three witches stayed silent. It was as if they had all suddenly been struck dumb at the thought of leaving.

“Well?” Penny snapped out of their malaise first.

“We … should … leave…” Keri said slowly as if she was still considering all of the options on the table and none of the filled her with joy.

“In which direction? Home or their house?” Isla said, and Keri frowned at her friend's words. “You just don’t sound too sure.”

“And you are?” Keri challenged her.

“I’m, not saying I am,” Isla shot back. She didn’t feel too comfortable with their situation.

“But then you’re not really saying much of…” Penny stopped talking when Lucas walked on by carrying a large A frame. “Not saying much of anything, are you?”

She finished when he was about as far out of ear shot as he was likely to get, considering those big ears.

“Ok, smarty pants,” Isla shoved a small squishy fox into the sack with a little too much venom. “Why don’t you tell us what you have planned, as you seem to know it all.”

“I…” Penny huffed, lost for words.

“Exactly!” Keri wagged a toy snake at her friend.

“So how are we supposed to know?” Isla exclaimed.

“I’ve heard of whistle while you work ladies, but whisper while you work?” Father Ted announced, and all three witches looked guilty of something. He just had no idea what it was that they were guilty of. “Gossiping?” He asked.

“Nope,” Keri gave a small shake of her head as her cheeks colored a nice bright red.

“Nooo?” Father Ted eyed them with interest. “Plotting?”

“Perish the thought, Father,” Penny offered back.

“Ahh! I know what it is,” Father Ted announced, and all three women looked at each other.

“I hope not,” Keri muttered.

“Men troubles.” He gave them a knowing look.

“Busted,” Keri nodded.

“You caught us,” Penny giggled.

“Those darn men,” Isla said, and Penny nudged her in the ribs. “What?” she hissed.

“Don’t swear in front of the priest,” Penny hissed back.

“I heard him say three kinds of poop when he hit his thumb with the hammer earlier!” Isla hissed back.

“I can assure you,” Father Ted whispered as he leaned in towards them. “I said my penance for those.”

Keri chuckled, and the others joined in.

“Good to know that you practice what you preach, Father,” Keri said with a sly grin.

“Oh, yes, well, you have to.” He offered back with a small roll of his eyes. “But, I came over to thank you all for your hard work today. Strangers to the flock, but you all jumped right in and lent a hand.”

“A little hard work never hurt anyone. Besides, it was fun,” Keri said as her eyes strayed towards Griffin as he stalked on by with a big wooden plinth over his shoulder and his muscles of parade.

“Yes, fun,” Father Ted teased, and she snapped her eyes back towards the man – her cheeks coloring again. “Well, soon be done. Keep up the good work.” He rubbed his hands together and sauntered off.

“So?” Penny leaned in and whispered, back to her conspiratorial tone once again.

“Buttons,” Keri sighed. “You want an honest answer, well, here it is. I don’t know.”

“Me either,” Isla agreed.

“Me three,” Penny sighed.

 

~

~

~

 

Griffin thumped the back of the last truck with the side of his fist, and it grated through the gears as it pulled away. The pack pickup truck still sat behind the witches’ car, boxing it in, but Griffin didn’t think that the three of them were in any hurry to be gone.

They’d taken refuge inside their pods. Mumbling and muttering about needing showers, which made all three men growl at the thought of their mates being naked on the other side of those wooden doors. But at least they were contained in one place while the brothers had a chance to figure out what to do next.

“They won’t leave,” Griffin assured his siblings.

“You know this how?” Lucas asked.

“They’re mates. They’re witches. And they more than know what that means and what comes next on both sides of this.” Griffin was sure, well, almost.

He’d been with his mate all day, off and on, and she seemed to be coming around to the idea of them being mates. But, now that she was inside the stupid pod with the equally stupid door firmly closed – he wasn’t sure what to think.

“And here we are, a day later, and we’re back to pacing outside the damn pods again,” Neal growled, and boy was he enjoying the freedom to let his wild side out.

“It’s fine,” Griffin said, but self-doubt was still managing to creep into his own mind.

What if Keri did decide to leave?

I can’t exactly stop her….

None of us can stop our mates from going.

We are all in the same position – waiting – wondering – hoping – I’d even take a prayer from Father Ted right about now.

God, I don’t believe I thought that – or that I said God.

Are things that bad that I would turn to the church?

I need a beer.

I need a lot of beer.

No, secure the mates first, and then drink copious amounts of beer.

But, if we secure the mates then we don’t need beer.

Who am I kidding, we always need beer.

“Can you not say the word fine?” Lucas grumbled.

“Yeah, fine is like tempting fate to crap on your head,” Neal agreed with another growl because he finally could growl, he would.

“Fine…” Griffin bit off the word on a long growl. “I won’t say the word … that I’m not supposed to damn well say… beer. I need a beer.”

“Amen to that,” Lucas grumbled.

“From your mouth to God’s ear,” Neal grinned.

“Can we not talk about God?” Griffin mumbled.

“I guess we should be thankful that the God squad showed up today. It kept our mates here and busy.” Lucas shrugged his shoulders at that thought.

“Maybe that was fate’s plan.”

“Do you think fate and God know each other?” Lucas said, and the other two turned looks of disbelief on their sibling.

“Seriously?” Griffin growled.

“What?” Lucas grumbled.

“Well they're here now, but they're not busy anymore.” Neal sighed.

“So then, being female, it follows that they’re probably… thinking,” Lucas tossed back, and he pulled a face like he’d just caught a whiff of his brother’s feet as the smell wafted under his nose.

“Oh, God, don’t say that!” Griffin bit out.

“Thought we weren’t supposed to mention the big fella,” Lucas chuckled as his alpha pulled a face.

“I’m back,” Percival announced.

“Hadn’t noticed you were gone,” Neal tossed back at the vampire and got a sour look in return.

“It has been kind of quiet and peaceful,” Lucas offered the beta and Neal nodded.

“Shame it couldn’t last,” Neal shrugged.

“We could kill him,” Lucas grinned at the thought of chasing that damn meddlesome vampire across the countryside and letting his wolf get out some of the tension within him as it took a bite.

“And here’s me, doing you a favor,” Percival announced.

“Which would be?” Griffin sighed again.

“I bought beer.”

“Damn glad to see you, Percy!” Keri announced as she yanked open the door to the pod, and Griffin suddenly lost his desire for beer.

One look at his freshly showered mate; dressed in a long flowing skirt, wrap around sheer top, and not a lot else – he suddenly had a thirst for something.

“Don’t call me Percy,” The vampire whined.